Apparatus for processing gas



. Feb., 25, E93 J. c:A SWAN APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING GAS Filed June l2, 1955 @www Patented Feb. 25', 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE John C. Swan, Marietta, Ohio; Charles W. Swan executor of said John C. Swan, deceased Application June 12, 1935, serial No. 26,223

10 Claims.

The invention relates to a gas processing apparatus particularly adapted for recovering gasoline from natural gas, and more especially to an apparatus by means of which it is possible to recover from the gas certain of the lighter constituents which are ordinarily not recovered as gasoline. i The invention contemplates means for rectifying crude gasoline in the sam-e apparatus in which it is abstracted, and utilization of the same for making the process continuous.

An object of the improvement is to provide an rapparatus which may receive natural gas directly from a well, or waste gases from the distillation of petroleums, especially where the petroleum is put through the process of hydrogenation, or the gases and vapors from the destructive distillation of coal, wood or other carbonaceous bodies that are plentiful and cheap, and which will economically and quickly recover a maximum amount of the gasoline from the gas so that the condensed gasoline and processed gas may be separately withdrawn from the apparatus.

An important object of the improvement is to provide means for maintaining a constant maximum level of condensed gasoline in the liquid receiving chamber and for continuously withdrawing condensed gasoline from said chamber at such a rate that this constant maximum level will be maintained throughout the process.

The above and other objects may be attained by providing a casing surrounded by a spaced ',jacket, both of which are constructed of struccommunication with the gas receiving space between the casing and jacket, and a multiplicity of condensing tubes being located through the refrigerant chamber and communicating at opposite ends with the condensing chamber and the gasoline receiving chamber, a oat operated discharge Valve being located in the gasoline receiving chamber.

It should be understood that instead of a single unit as shown in the drawing, the machine may comprise a series of such units connected toether and so arranged that the gas may be passed from one unit to the next, each unit of the apparatus being arranged to abstract a different constituent or constituents from the gas.

An embodiment of the invention thus briefly described is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a vertical sectional elevation of an apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2, a transverse section taken as on the line 2 2, Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3, an enlarged fragmentary sectional elevation showing the manner of connecting the condensing tubes to one of the partition plates in the casing.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the drawing.

The gas processing apparatus to which the invention pertains may be mounted upon a base i5 formed of concrete or the like, preferably having a recess II formed therein for a purpose to be later described, The outer jacket comprises the side walls I2 and top and bottom walls I3 and I4 respectively, the side walls being formed of structural members, preferably vertically disposed channel members I5, the flanges I8 of which may be inturned and welded together and provided with openings I'l to permit free passage of gas therethrough.

The casing, indicated generally at I8, is spaced within the jacket and formed of structural members such as the vertically disposed I-members I9, the anges 20 of which may be riveted together and provided with apertures 2| which, together with the apertures Il in the anges I6, permit free circulation of the gas between the casing and jacket. Angle members 22 may be provided at the corners of the casing and welded to the anges 2B of adjacent I-members, the apertures 2| extending through said angle members as well as the anges 20.

As best shown in Fig. 2, it will be seen that the anges I6 and 20 form spacers between the casing and the jacket, thus providing the desired space between these two members and at the same time reinforcing and bracing both the casing and the jacket and together with the transversely disposed structural reinforcing members to be later described, providing a rigid solid construction of suiicient strength to withstand the pressures and temperatures to which the apparatus is subjected.

The reinforcing structure includes alternately staggered pairs of structural members .such as the YT-bars 23 transversely disposed around the jacket and clampedthereon as by the tie bolts or bars 24.

It should be understood that the top plate I3 and the bottom plate I4 are welded to the adja- Y cent end portions of the jacket as well as the casing in order to provide an entirely gas-tight structure. Y

Transversely disposed partition plates 25 and 26are located within the casing, spaced from the upper and lower ends thereof respectively, the edges of said partition plates beingtightly welded to the inner walls of the casing in order to provide gas-tight joints. VThese partition plates divide the casing into the upper or Vcondensing chamber 21, the central or refrigerant chamber 28 and the lower or gasoline receiving chamber 29.

Betweenrth'e upper partition plate 25 and the Y top plate I3 the side walls of the casing :are per- Yforatercl as at 3U, forming a communication bev tween thercondensing chamber 21 and the gas A multiplicity of longitudinally disposed refrigerant tubes 3| is located through the refrigerant chamber, the opposite ends of VtheY tubes being located through suitable apertures 32 in the upper and lower partition plates 251 and 26 Y and welded thereto as shown at 33, thus producing a gas-tight joint between the tubes and thef lconnected to any suitable container for receiving the same. Y Y Y A float controlled discharge valve is located 1n the lower portion of the gasoline receiving cham- Yber 29 and may include a casting or the like 36 having a` gasoline discharge passage 31 formed therein, provided at its upper end with Ya valve seat 38 for the valve 39, having the ears 40 pivotally connected as at 4I to the float arm 42 which Y is pivoted as at 43 upon a lugr44 which may be formed upon the casting 36, afloat ball 45being Vlocated at the free end of the arm. A yoke 46,

upon the casting 36, may be pro-vided to guide the float arm 42.

` ture 48 in the bottom wall I4 upon which is passage 31 into which may be' connected thescrewed the casting or the like 49 having agasoline discharge passage 50 registering with the gasoline discharge pipe 5I which mayY lead to into the passage 50.

For the purpose of manually operating the valve to open the same in the event it should by any means become stuck, a hand operated lever 53 may be pivoted as at 54 upon a lug 49a formed on the casting 49, a rod 55 being pivoted as at 56 uponV said lever and located through a stuffing to contact therod 31 in order 'to manually raise A gas .through the refrigerant tubes. 3I.

acsaom the valve 39. A yoke 58V maybe formed upon Yjacket and communicate with any suitable receiving apparatus such as. a compressor or the like.

In'order to speed up the operation when the process is first started, instead of first introducing the gas to be processed, the machine may be lirst Y charged with light gasoline obtained from'any source other than the source from which the'gas to be processed is'tof be obtained.Y Only a Yrela.- tively small amount of this-light gasoline is necessary, all that is required being that a sufficient quantityof the same be charged into the appa- Y ratus to cause condensation in the carrier gasto be later processed.

Low pressure is established 'on the'surface ofV Y the inserted gasoline, causing cooling evaporation to cool the elements of the machine to working temperature before admitting the gasto be processed. In this manner I obtain a refrigeration of the operating machine which is t'ofreceiveV further wet gas for processing.

The natural gas to be processed is admitted toiV vthe gas receiving chamber between the casing and jacket through the gasinlet pipe 34, under'a pressure of about 1600 pounds, and passes through the apertures I1 in the nanges of the structural members entirely surrounding ,the` casing j and' rises to the top of the apparatus, passingr through the apertures 3D in the side walls of the casing into the condensing chamber 21 and then downward At the same time, the refrigerant liquid,

-45 C., isadmitted to the refrigerant chamber through the liquid refrigerant inlet pipe 59, entirely surrounding the refrigerant tubes `3| and liquefying a considerablepartof the gas in said n which may be propane, having a boiling temperature of tubes, the Agasoline thus produced passing downward vfrom the tubes into Vthe gasoline receiving chamber 29 where it collects in the lower part of said chamber asY indicated at G. u,

`As the liquid gasoline level in the chamber 29 rises, the float operatedvalve 39 will be opened,V

discharging the gasoline throughv the pipe 5I. to

any suitable storage place, while the processedv gas may be withdrawn from the chamber 29 through ,I the gas outlet pipe 35 where it may either be dis# The casting 36 may be provided with a depending threaded nipple 41 located through an apercharged into the atmosphere or conveyedto any suitable point. As the refrigerant vapors rise in forming Ya gas receiving chamber therebetween,

means for admitting gas under pressure to said f the refrigerant chamber, they may be withdrawn receiving chamber, said casing having a condens- Y Y ing chamber at one end communicatin'g'with said receiving chamber, an intermediate refrigerant chamber, andV a condensed liquid receiv-f ing chamber beyond the refrigerant chamber, refrigerant tubes located in therefrigerant chamber and communicating at opposite ends with the condensing chamber and thev liquid, receiving chamber, means for admitting refrigerant liquid to the refrigerant chamber, means for Withdraw 75 ing refrigerant vapor from the refrigerant chamber, means for maintaining a constant maximum level of condensed gasoline in the liquid receiving chamber and for continuously withdrawing gasoline from said chamber, and means for withdrawing processed gas from the liquid receiving chamber.

2. Apparatus for processing gas including a jacket, a casing spaced within said jacket and l ing refrigerant vapor from the refrigerant chamber, means for maintaining a constant maximum level of condensed liquid in the liquid receiving chamber and for continuously withdrawing condensed liquid from the liquid receiving chamber, and means for withdrawing processed gas from the liquid receiving chamber, alternately staggered pairs of transversely disposed structural bars lo'- cated around said jacket, and tie bolts clamping said structural bars around the jacket.

3. Apparatus for processing gas including a jacket formed of longitudinally disposed structural members provided with flanges, a casing within the jacket formed of longitudinally disposed structural members having flanges, said flanges spacing the casing and jacket and forming a gas receiving chamber therebetween, means for admitting gas under pressure to said receiving chamber, said casing having a condensing chamber at one end communicating with said receiving chamber, an intermediate refrigerant chamber, and a condensed liquid receiving chamber beyond the refrigerant chamber, refrigerant tubes located'in the refrigerant chamber and communicating at apposite ends with the condensing chamber and the liquid receiving chamber, means for admitting refrigerant liquid to the refrigerant chamber, means for withdrawing the refrigerant vapor from the refrigerant chamber, means for maintaining a constant maximum level of condensed liquid in the liquid receiving chamber and for continuously withdrawing condensed liquid from the liquid receiving chamber, and means for withdrawing processed gas from the liquid receiving chamber.

4. Apparatus for processing gas including a jacket formed of longitudinally disposed structural members provided with flanges, a casing within the jacket formed of longitudinally disposed structural members having flanges, said flanges spacing the casing and jacket and forming a gas receiving chamber therebetween, said flanges having openings therethrough, means for admitting gas under pressure to said receiving chamber, said casing having a condensing chamber at one end communicating with said receiving chamber, an intermediate refrigerant chamber, and a condensed liquid receiving chamber beyond the refrigerant chamber, refrigerant tubes located in the refrigerant chamber and communicating at opposite ends with the condensing chamber and the liquid receiving chamber, means for admitting refrigerant liquid to the refrigerant chamber, means for withdrawing refrigerant vapor from the refrigerant chamber, means for maintaining a constant maximum level of condensed liquid in the liquid receiving chamber and for continuously withdrawing condensed liquid from the liquid receiving chamber, and means for withdrawing processed gas from the liquid receiving chamber.

5. Apparatus for processing gas including a jacket formed of longitudinally disposed structural members provided with flanges, a casing Within the jacket formed of longitudinally disposed structural members having ilanges, said flanges spacing the casing and jacket and forming a gas receiving chamber therebetween, means for admitting gas under pressure to said receiving chamber, said casing having a condensing chamber at one end communicating with said receiving chamber, an intermediate refrigerant chamber, and a condensed liquid receiving chamber beyond the refrigerant chamber, refrigerant tubes located in the refrigerant chamber and communicating at opposite ends with the condensing chamber and the liquid receiving chamber, means for admitting refrigerant liquid to the refrigerant chamber, means for withdrawing refrigerant vapor from the refrigerant chamber, means for maintaining a constant maximum level of condensed liquid in the liquid receiving chamber and for continuously withdrawing condensed liquid from the liquid receiving chamber, and means for withdrawing processed gas from the liquid receiving chamber, alternately staggered pairs of transversely disposed structural bars located around said jacket, and tie bolts clamping said structural bars around the jacket.

6. Apparatus for processing gas including a jacket formed of longitudinally disposed structural members provided with flanges, a casing within the jacket formed of longitudinally disposed structural members having flanges, said flanges spacing the casing and jacket and forming a gas receiving chamber therebetween, said flanges having openings therethrough, means for admitting gas under pressure to said receiving chamber, said casing having a condensing chamber at one end communicating with said receiving chamber, an intermediate refrigerant chamber, and a condensed liquid receiving chamber beyond the refrigerant chamber, refrigerant tubes located in the refrigerant chamber and communicating at opposite ends with the condensing chamber and the liquid receiving chamber, means for admitting refrigerant liquid to the refrigerant chamber, means for withdrawing refrigerant vapor from the refrigerant chamber, means for maintaining a constant maximum level of condensed liquid in the liquid receiving chamber and for continuously withdrawing condensed liquid from the liquid receiving chamber, and means for withdrawing processed gas from the liquid receiving chamber, alternately staggered pairs of transversely disposed structural bars located around said jacket, and tie bolts clamping said structural bars around the jacket.

'7. Apparatus for processing gas including a jacket formed of longitudinally disposed structural channel beams, a casing within the jacket formed of longitudinally disposed structural I- beams, the flanges of said channel beams and I-beams spacing the casing and jacket and forming a gas receiving chamber therebetween, means for admitting gas under pressure to said receiving chamber, said casing having a condensing chamber at one end communicating with said tubes located in the Vrefrigerant chamber andV -ber beyond the refrigerant chamber, refrigerant communicating .at opposite ends with the condensing chamber and the'liquid receiving chamber, means for admitting refrigerant liquid to the refrigerant chamber, means fcr withdrawing refrigerant vapor from the refrigerant chamber,

:fis

means for maintaining a ccnstant maximum level of condensed liquid in the liquid receiving w y of condensed liquid-in theliquid receiving cham# b'er and for continuouslywithdrawing condensed chamber `and for continuously withdrawing condensed liquid from the liquid receivingchamber, V

and means for withdrawing processed gas from the liquid receiving chamber.

8. Apparatus for processing Vgas including a jacket formed of longitudinally disposed structural channel beams, a casing within the jacket formed of iongitudinally disposed structural I-beams spacing the casing and jacket and forming a gas receiving chamber therebetween, said Y flanges having openings therethrough, means for admitting gas under pressure to said receiving chamben'said casing having a condensing chainl ber at one end communicating with said receivj anges having openings therethrough, means for admitting gas under pressure to said receiving` chamber, said casing having a condensing `chaming chamber, an intermediate refrigerant chainber, and a condensed liquid receiving chamber j beyond the refrigerant chamber, refrigerant densing chamber and the liquid receiving chamtural channel beams, a casing within the jacket l ber, means for admitting refrigerant liquid to Y the refrigerant chamber, means for withdrawing Vrefrigerant vapor from theY refrigerant chamber,

` means for maintaining a constant maximum level of condensed liquid in the liquid receiving chamthe refrigerant chamber, means for withdrawing liquid from the liquidl receiving chamber, and means for withdrawing processed gas from the ber and for continuously withdrawing condensed liquid receiving chamber.

9. Apparatus for processing gas including a,l

jacket formed of longitudinally disposed strucformed of longitudinally disposed structural I-beams, the flanges of said channel beams and I-beams spacing the casing and jacket and forming a gas receiving chamber therebetween, means for admitting gas under pressure to said receiving chamber, said casing having a condensing I-beams, the -iianges of said channel beams and tubes located in the refrigerant chamber and Y l chamberat one :end communicating jwith saidY receiving chamber, an intermediate refrigerant chamber, and a condensed liquid receiving chamber beyond therefrigerant chamber, refrigerant frigerant vapor'frcm the refrigerant chamber, means for maintaining la constant maximum level liquid from the liquid receiving chamber, and means for withdrawing processed gas from the liquid receiving chamber, alternatelystaggered pairs of transversely' disposed structural bars Y t Ylocated around said jacket, and tie bolts clampj ing said structural bars around the jacket. Y

i0. Apparatus for processing gas including a;Y

jacket formed of longitudinally disposed structural channel beamaacasing within the jacket Aformed of longitudinally disposed structural I-beams, the flanges of said channel beams and I-beamsspacing the casing and jacket and forming a gas receiving chambertherebetween, said ber at one end` communicating withsaid receiving chamber, an intermediate refrigerant chamber, and a condensed liquid receiving chamber densingV chamber and the liquid receiving chamber, means Yfor admitting refrigerant liquid to refrigerant vapor from the refrigerant chamber,

means for maintaininga constant maximum level 1' of 'condensed liquid in the liquid receiving chamber and for continuously withdrawing condensed liquid frcm the liquid receiving chamber, and means for withdrawing processed gas from the liquid receiving chamber, alternately staggered 2 pairs of transversely disposed structural bars located around said jacket, and tie bolts clamping said structural bars around the jacket. Y

JOHN C. SWAN. 

